Whether you come to pick up a free tomato plant, make a tie-dye shirt, check out the walking sticks at the Bohart Museum of Entomology or watch amazing dogs do their tricks, Picnic Day 2008 is the place to be on April 19.

We advise you to begin with the pancake breakfast, proceed to a good spot to watch the parade, check out the talent shows, find a seat for the dachshund races and end your day listening to the Battle of the Bands. In all, it is a potpourri of UC Davis, sights and sounds, people and places.

In keeping with this sense of diversity, the theme for Picnic Day 2008 is "A Kaleidoscope of Voices." Student Michelle Chan, director of the Picnic Day Board, explains:

"Out of the many voices that are heard, one message of hope and tolerance is expressed — just as in a kaleidoscope, a mixture of different shapes come together to form one brilliant image."

Student organizers recommend using the Picnic Day 2008 Web site — www.picnicday.ucdavis.edu — to make plans. You will find plenty to do.